By Terence Dooley
Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye came face-to-face at Hamburg’s Imtech-Arena earlier today to formally announce their July 2nd showdown. Haye dismissed Wlad, calling the IBF, WBO and IBO holder a “fraud”. Wlad believes that the WBA boss is trying to build himself up going into the face-off, citing his own willingness to settle on terms as the key to smoking Haye out.
“I have to get along with Haye otherwise we wouldn’t be standing here. I gave him fifty percent to make this fight happen. I have to get along with him but he doesn’t get along with me,” insisted Wlad when speaking to Sky Sport’s Craig Slater.
“We were at the press conference and (he started) all the nonsense, (He) hits below the line, saying everything insulting about the Klitschko brothers. There is a certain way you can promote yourself, but not this way. It is not acceptable. I feel obligated to teach David Haye to behave himself.”
The 35-year-old feels that his 30-year-old foe is in dire need of good manners with Dr. Steelhammer keen to take the errant Londoner under his wing. Wlad was also eager to point out that it was Haye who withdrew from a scheduled summer 2009 meeting.
He said, “I put a clause in this contract saying he has to go to the ring first because you never know. If I go to the ring first I could be left waiting if he doesn’t show up like he didn’t show up a few years ago, when he signed to fight me, talked about fighting Vitali, complained about options and then signed options with Sauerland to fight Nikolay Valuev.
“Anyway, the fight is on July 2nd and I am very happy that we can stage it at this beautiful arena here in Hamburg in front of 50,000 people. British fans are amazing. I’ve been to fights in the US where British fans are signing songs, so supportive and loud, it will be a great mix.
“The fans will choose one of the guys to cheer. This is my fourth event in a soccer stadium, the first for Haye – it is an experience in his life, too. I want to say that aside from the hot air over the last two-and-a-half-years it is eventually about the fight, the winner gets the cheers, the loser gets ‘Who are you?’”
Klitschko has scored 49 KOs en route to a 55-3 career slate, his clinical approach has been heavily criticised by Haye, who hopes to rattle Wlad ahead of the first bell in order to force a change in tactics. Wlad, though, believes that he is duty bound to teach his title rival a lesson in boxing, humility and etiquette come the night.
“There is a certain dislike towards David Haye but I want to give him a lesson for his future and his life. For him as a persona it will be really helpful. In a way I was trying to help Haye (today), to make him feel comfortable by translating things for him, he doesn’t speak German, and it wasn’t an insult from me, he is a guest and I take care of guests,” smiled Klitschko.
“I wanted to show respect to Haye. He has certain qualities because he’s talked himself into a unification fight right now. He has heavy hands, great speed and is very motivated. I don’t know why, but this time the steam came out of his ears, there was a certain anger.”
Indeed, the 6’ 6½’’ Ukrainian continued to speak philosophically about the meeting, claiming that he saw fear flicker across Hayes eyes at the stare down.
“I respect him as a fighter but will answer questions on July 2nd. There is a saying, ‘Eyes are the mirror of the soul’, you can see a lot through the eyes,” he mused.
“I have knocked out 49 fighters in my career, David Haye disrespected them by saying they got a cheque and were bums, I am sorry for my language – he said they were not good. I will show him that he will just be another number. My fiftieth knockout comes on July 2nd. I will do everything with pleasure, respect and joy, because we have to have joy in our work.”
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